Ruth Faison Shaw (1889–1969) was an American artist, educator who is credited with introducing

finger painting Fingerpaint is a kind of paint intended to be applied with the fingers; it typically comes in tubes and is used by small children, though it has occasionally been used by adults either to teach art to children, or for their own use. Finger pa ...

into the US as an art education medium. She developed her techniques while working in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, Italy, patenting a safe non-toxic paint in 1931.

Early life

Shaw was born in

Kenansville, North Carolina Kenansville is a town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 770 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Duplin County. The town was named for James Kenan, a member of the North Carol ...

, on October 15, 1889. Her father was a Presbyterian minister and she had four brothers. She attended elementary school in

Cabarrus County, North Carolina Cabarrus County ( )Talk Like a Tarheel
, from the North Carolina ...

. She graduated from a Presbyterian girls school, the James Sprunt Institute, in 1906. She also attended the

Peabody Conservatory The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a private music and dance conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1857, it became affiliated with Johns Hopkins in 1977. History Philanthropist and ...

in Baltimore. After graduation she gained some experience as (an untrained) school teacher in the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

Transylvania County, North Carolina Transylvania County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population is 32,986. Its county seat is Brevard, North Carolina, Brevard. Transylvania County co ...

. In 1918 Shaw travelled to France and Italy with the

Young Women's Christian Association The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

(YWCA), before setting up a school in Rome.

Finger painting

Shaw is credited with developing the art of

and later introducing it into the American education system. She later claimed she had been inspired when she saw a child smearing iodine onto a wall, realising children liked to 'smear'. This event took place in 1926, when Shaw had already founded an experimental school, the Shaw School, for English-speaking children. Shaw developed the techniques and materials required for finger painting. In 1931 she patented a gelatinous paint medium that would be safe for children. Shaw returned to the US in 1932. She took a job in the progressive Dalton School in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, where she introduced finger painting to the curriculum. An exhibition of finger painting art took place in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

in 1933. She published several books on finger painting.

Later career

Shaw came to be seen as a pioneer in progressive education. She was invited to lecture about finger painting and organize exhibitions. She started a factory in New York to produce her paint. Finger painting workshops were started for adults. In 1942 she became a lecturer at

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) is the graduate school of education affiliated with Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, Teachers College has been a part of Columbia University since ...

. Shaw died in

Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the All-Ameri ...

in 1969. A collection of her papers are held at the

Southern Historical Collection The Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South. These collections are made up of unique primary mat ...

at the

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the Public university, public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referre ...

Selected works

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw, Ruth Faison 1889 births 1969 deaths 20th-century American painters 20th-century American women painters American art educators People from Kenansville, North Carolina Teachers College, Columbia University faculty American women academics